Scientists have identified how El Niños and La Niñas change snowfall in specific regions of the continental United States. The new findings, published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society may lead to more accurate winter season snowfall forecasts when either event is occurring. (AMS release)

Estimates of deforestation that are significantly better than those currently used by the United Nations are being created with data from NASA's Terra satellite. The new method for mapping tree cover was presented this week at the AGU meeting in Boston. (University of Maryland release)

In only seven months of monitoring with NASA's Terra satellite, scientists have already seen melting in glaciers all over the Earth. The observations provide some solid evidence for global warming. (Arizona State University release)

In a novel analysis of 12 cities around the world with NASA's Terra satellite, scientists have found three significant types of urban development that they believe can be used to classify cities by their growth and density patterns. (Arizona State University release)

Trees and soil may not sop up much of the extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over the long term under real-world conditions. An experiment where forest plots were grown under levels of carbon dioxide expected by the mid 21st century showed an initial growth spurt in pine trees that was not maintained in later years. (Duke University release)

The influence of oceanic whitecaps on global climates has been largely ignored by climate models. A new study in Geophysical Research Letters for the first time clearly defines the amount whitecaps impact climate by reflecting solar radiation. (Scripps Institution of Oceanography/University of California-San Diego release)